Ice-cutting machine.



J. B. WASSON.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1912. 1,070,930. Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co..wAsH|NGTON, u. c.

J. B. WASSON.

ICE CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 1, 1912.

1,070,930, Patented Aug. 19, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c0wAs||1NGToN, D. c.

fyi/messes JOHN B. WASSON, OF NEWTON, IOWA.

ICE-CUTTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ang. 18,1913.

Application led August 1, 1912. Serial No. 712,800.

To all Qr/wm t may concerny Be it. known that. I, .Toi-IN B. Wasson, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the. county of Jasper and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Ice-Cutting Machine, of which the following is a, specification.

The object of my invention is to provide an ice sawing machine, whereby ice may be sawed in longitudinal strips and cross sawed into blocks.

A further object is to provide such a machine which may be advanced over the surface of the ice for sawing the ice into longitudinal blocks and provided with a saw and a movable frame for sawing the longitudinal blocks into shorter blocks during the stops in the forward movement of the machine.

A further object is to provide in such a machine simple means for steering the machine in its progress over the surface of the ice.

A further object is to provide in such a machine, mechanism for raising the ice saws above the surface of the ice during the conveyance of the machine from one point to another.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction, arrangement and com bination of the various parts of my device, whereby the. objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter mo-re fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illust-rated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the ice sawing machine, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows an end elevation of same, showing the cross cutting saw and the mechanism connected therewith. Fig. 3 shows a detail, view of part of the sliding frame in which the cross cutting saw is mounted. Fi 4 shows a top or plan elevation of my improved ice cutting machine. Fig. 5 shows a detail view of the toothed wheel for advancing the machine over the surface of the ice, and Fig. G shows a detail view of the clutch mechanism for throwing into gear, the mechanism for moving the sliding carriage of the cross cutting saw.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate the runners which are designed to travel 'on the surface of the ice and which form a part of the frame of the machine. At the forward end of the machine, I provide a suitable cross piece 11 on which is mounted a suitable source of power 12, which may be a gasolene engine. At each corner of the rear end of the machine, I provide uprights 13, and near the forward end of the machine, I provide uprights 14. Connecting the upper ends of the uprights 13 and 14, are longitudinal frame members 15. Connecting the upper ends of the uprights 14, is a transverse frame member 16, and connecting the upper ends of the uprights 13, is al transverse frame member 17.

For sawing the ice into long strips, I have provided the following mechanism: Suitably mounted near the front of the machine is a transverse shaft 18. The shaft- 18 may be mounted as shown in the drawings in bearings 19 near the lower ends of the uprightmembers 14. The shaft 18 is designed to be operated from the primary source of power 12, as for instance, by means of a belt wheel 20 on the shaft 18, a belt wheel 21 on the engine shaft, and a belt 22 on said belt wheels. Parallel frame members 24 are loosely mounted on the shaft. 18 to swing freely thereon and extend rearwardly in the machine. Mounted on the shaft 25, between the rearward ends of the members 24 is an ice saw 26. On the shaft 18, is a sprocket gear 27, in line with a sprocket gear 28 on the shaft On the sprocket gears 27 and 28 is a sprocket chain 29. For raising and lowering the free end of the frame members 24 and thereby. raising or lowering the saw 2G, I have provided the following means: Mounted in the horizontal frame members 15, above the rear ends of the members 24, is a transverse shaft- 30, on one end of which, outside the frame members 15, is a crank handle 31. Secured to each of the members 24, near the forward end thereof, is a rope or chain 33, one end of which is wound about the shaft` 30. It will be seen that the shaft 30 may be rotated by means of the and lowering the saw 26, the depth of the eut thereof may be regulated or the saw may be raised entirely above the surface of the ice.

rlhe mechanism for advancing the machine over the surface of the ice will be hereinafter described.

It will be seen that by making one cut with the saw QG, and then by making a parallel cut, ice will be eut longitudinally into strips. For cutting the long strips into short blocks, I have provided the following means: Near the rear end of the machine, I have mounted between the members 10, parallel transverse frame members 3G. Mounted in suitable bearings 3T, on the members B6, is a longitudinal shaft 23S, which eX- tends forwardly in the machine from the members B6. Pivoted to the shaft 88 between the bearings 37 are two parallel, laterally extending frame members S9, preferably formed of channel bars. The channels of the frame members 39 are opposite. Slidably mounted in the channels of the frame members 39 are frame members 40 which extend to points beyond the sides of the m achin e.

Rotatably mounted between the outer ends of the frame members 40, is a circular ice saw 4l. I41 or moving the saw 4l from the outward `limit of its movement to the limit of its movement where it is closest to the frame of the machine, I have provided a rack 42 on a platform 43 between the frame members 40. On the shaft 3S is rotatably but non-slidably mounted a gear wheel 44 in mesh with the teeth of the rack 42. For moving the saw 4l from its inner to its outer limit of movement, I have provided the following means: Mounted on the upper part of the frame-work of the machine, I have prcvided two powerful springs 45, preferably having one coil and extending to position just in the rear of and on each side of the saw 4l, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Secured to the outer end of each spring 45 is a chain 4G, the other end of which is secured to the inner end of one of the frame members 40. The springs 45 are so arranged that their tendency is to move the saw 4l to its outward limit of movement and the power of said springs will affect the sliding frame members 40 whenever the gear 44 is loose on the shaft 3S.

For elevating the saw 4l, above the suis face of the ice, I have provided the following mechanism: In the upper part of the framework of the rear of the machine, is a longitudinal shaft 47 on which is wound a rope 4S. Centrally secured to the end of the rope 4S is a bar 49. Secured to each end of the bar 49 is a rope 50, the outer end of which is secured to the outer ends of the frame in which the saw 4l is mounted. One end of the shaft 47, preferably extends slightly beyond the rear end of the machine and on said end of said shaft is mounted a crank handle 5l. @n the shaft 4T is a ratchet wheel which coacts with a spring actuated pawl shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that by the mechanism just described, the saw 4l, will be raised and secured in any position of its upward movement.

F or operating the saw 4l, I have provided the following means: @n one end oit' the shaft 18 is a bevelec gear 54. lvfounted in a suit able bearing is a shaft 5G on one end of which is a beveled gear 5T in mesh with the beveled gear Connected with the shaft 5G by means of a universal joint 5S, is a hollow angular shaft Slidably received in the sha-ft 59 is an angular shaft 60 which is connected with the shaft G1 on which the saw 4l is mounted, by means of a universal joint 62.

For throwing the gear wheel 44 into mesh with the shaft 38, I have provided the following mechanism: Slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 38, is a clutch member GOa designed to coact with the clutch member 6la on the gear 44. Mounted on one of the frame members l5, is a lever G2 which between its ends is operatively connected with the clutch member 60, The other end of the lever G2 is pivoted to a link G3, which extends rearwardly in the machine. Pivoted to the rearward end of the link G3 is an upwardly extending linlr G4 the upper end of which is secured to a rock bar 65, which is mounted in suitable bearings on the frame of the machine. @n one end of the rock bar is a downwardly extending lever (3G. It will be seen that by rotating the roclr bar G5, the clutch members (50a and Gl may be thrown into or out of gear. For normally holding the said clutch members out of gear.y I have provided a coil spring 67a secured to the frame of the machine and to the lever armp). For automatically throwingl said clutch members into gear at th-e proper time for n'ialting a cross cut, I have provided the following means: Pivoted in a substantially vertical plane, to the lower end of the arm 66, is a lever having a portion 67, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. l which extends downwardly and rearwardly from lthe arm GG and terminates .in a hook member (3S. rrnother portion G9 of said lever extends upwardly and forwardly in the machine an d provided with a handle T0 at its upper end which normally stands in substantially horizontal position. The members G7 and (38 are of such size, and so located, that the bool; member (3S normallyT rests below the level of the ice which is beingl cut, on the right hand side of the machine, it advances, after each small cake of ice has been cut and moved out of the way. It may be explained that in cutting ice, two long saw cuts 72 are made tra and the third cut 73 is then started. a proper point has been reached in the progress of the machine, for making a cross cut in the strip of ice 74, the saw 41 is operated for making such a cut. After the first cake has been cut, it is moved out of the way and in the progress of the machine, the hook member 68 will engage and grip the end of the long strip of ice 74 when the saw 41 has reached a proper point for making the next cross cut. After a clear space has been formed, in the water, the saw 41 is allowed to travel in the edge of the water outside the ice which is being out and normally stands at the outward position of its movement. Then the hook member 68 engages the block 74, the gear 44 is thrown into gear with the shaft 38 and the moving frame in which the saw 41 is mounted is drawn toward the machine by the action of the gear 44 on the rack 42 and the cross cut is made.

For automatically releasing the hook member 68 and permitting the spring 67a to move the lever 62 in such a manner as to draw the clutch member 60a out of engagement with the clutch member 61', I have provided the following means: On the movable platform 43, I have provided a releasing device 75 which extends upwardly and toward the main body of the machine. As the platform 43 is moved toward the body of the machine, the outwardly inclined releasing device 75 engages the substantially horizontal handle 70 on the portion 69 and depresses the same, thereby raising the portion 67 and releasing the hook member 68 from its engagement with the ice and permitting the clutch members 60a and 61*1 to be thrown out of engagement. The means for operating the shaft 38 will be hereinafter described.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that after the operation of ice cutting has once been properly commenced, lthe saw 41 will be automatically operated for cross cutting the long strip 74 into ice cakes 7 6 of suitable size.

For advancing the machine over the ice, and for operating the shaft 38, I have provided mechanism as follows: Mounted in the frame, preferably somewhat in the rear of the shaft 18, is a transverse shaft 78. Mounted in the frame above the level of the shaft 78, and in the same vertical plane therewith, is a shaft 83 o-n. one end of which is a sprocket gear 79 which is in line with the sprocket gear 80 on the shaft 18. Mount-- ed on the gears 79 and 80 is a sprocket chain 81. Mounted on the shaft 78 is a toothed wheel 82 designed to rest firmly on the surface of the ice and to enter a suflicient depth therein to firmly grip t-he ice for advancing the machine when thershaft 78 is operated. On the shaft 83 is a friction gear wheel 84 near which is mounted a vertical shaft 85 on When the upper end of which is a horizont-ally arranged friction gear wheel 86 which is slidably mounted on the shaft 85 in the manner hereinbefore described. On the lower end of the shaft 85 is a double beveled gear wheel 87, one side of which is in mesh with a beveled gear wheel 88 loosely mounted on the shaft 7 8 and t-he other side of which is in mesh with a beveled gear wheel 89 on the shaft 38. For throwing the friction gears 86 and 84 into and out of gear, I have provided the following means: It has already been noted that the friction gear 86 is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 85. The friction gear wheel 86 is provided with a hub on which is a collar 90. A lever arm 91 is operatively connected with the collar and is fixed on a rock shaft 92. On one end' of the rock shaft 92 is a crank arm 93. Pivoted to the crank arm 93 is a link 94 which extends to a point near the rear of the machine. The rear end of the link 94 is pivoted to the lower end of a lever 95 which is provided' with an ordinary pawl 96 which is designed to coact with a sector 97. By operating the lever 95, the end of the lever 91. which is operatively connected with the friction gear 86 may be raised or lowered. lillhen the wheel 86 is adjacent to the center of the wheel 84, the rotation of the wheel 84 will have no eect on the wheel 86. As the wheel 86 is moved away from the center of the wheel 84, the wheel 86 will be rotated in unison with the wheel 84. rThe relative speeds of the wheels 84 and 86 are largely determined by the distance of the wheel 86 away from the center of the wheel 84.

For throwing the wheel 88 into gear with the shaft 78, and thereby operating the toothed wheel 82, I have provided a clutch member 98 slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the shaft 78 and designed to coact with the clutch member 99 on the beveled gear 88. The clutch member 98 is operatively connected with one end of the bell crank lever 100, the other end of which is pivoted to a link 101, which extends rearwardly in the machine. r[he rearward end of the link 101 is pivoted to the lever 62 preferably at a point between t-he pivotal point thereof and the clutch member 60a. The bell crank lever is so arranged as shown in Figs. 4 and 6, that when the lever 62 is moved to position to throw the clutch members 60a and 61aN into gear, the clutch members 98 and 99 will be thro-wn out of gear and when said lever is moved in the other direction, and the clutch members 60a and 61Z1 are thrown out of gear, then the clutch members 98 and 99 are thrown into gear.

For steering my improved ice cutting machine, when it is being propelled across the surface of the ice, I have provided on two of the upright members 13 and 14, suitable bearings 105, in which are mounted upright shalts 10G. lotatably mounted on the lower ends ot the shalts 106 are wheels 10T having a sharp edged periphery designed to travel on the surface ot' the ice. @n the upper ends of the shafts 100 are laterally extending, parallel arms, 10S which are connected by a link 10i) which pivoted at each end to one ot the lever arms 10S. Connected with one ot the lever arms 108 is a lever handle 110 and on the lever arm 110 is a spring actuated pawl 111 designed to coact with the sector 112. By means ot the lever arm 110 and the mechanism connected therewith, the shafts 100 may be rotated and the wheels 107 thereby steered for affecting the direction in which the ice cutting machine is propelled.

1t will be understood that a` great many changes may be made in the detalls of the construction of my device without departing from its essential features and purposes as defined in the appended claims.

ln the practical operation o1 my improved ice cutting machine, when the parts have all been assembled and installed and the machine is placed on the surtace ot the ice, it may be propelled to the desired point by starting the engine or putting in operation, the primary source of power. The saws should be raised to their elevated position. The shatt 3S will be held in gear with the shaft 78 by means oit the spring 67a. The machine may be steered in any direction by the wheels 107 and the mechanism connected therewith. llivhen the point is reached where it is desired to begin cutting the ice, the saw 26 is dropped by releasing the pawl 35 and the machine is started across the ice. The saw 20 may be iixed to cut at any desired depth which is preferably somewhat less than the thickness of the ice. Assuming that ice has been cut away to leave a clear strip ot water, one cut is made along the edge ot the water and a parallel cut is started. lWhen the machine has reached the proper point and the saw al1 is in proper position ttor making the irst cross cut, the lever 6G should be moved :tor throwing` the clutch members G0a and 61a into gear. dien the cross cut is made, the portion is depressed by the releasing device and the saw l1 in its movable trame will be quickly moved to its outward limit of movement by the springs 4:5. lVhen a second cross cut is made, the cake or block ot icel is moved out oit the way and when the machine has advanced to a proper distance, the hook G8 will engage the end of the. block 711, thereby throwing the clutch members 60a and 61n into gear and causing the next cross cut to be completed. `From then on, the cross cutting saw will work automatically.

r1`he advantages ot my improved ice sawing machine are readily seen from the torego-ing description. fitter the operation of the machine has been begun, it may be guided along the ice and the saw i.l1 will be operated automatically tor cutting` the long strips into blocks or cakes ot suitable size. rllhe cut made by the saw 26 may be ot' any desired depth and the machine may be made to travel across the ice as slow or as fast as desired. 1t will be seen that on account ot the construction et the mechanism de scribed, the wheel 82 cannot be thrown in gear when the gear 44 is in gear.

l claim as my invention:

1. 1n a device of the class described, a frame, a saw mounted thereon, means for raising or lowering said saw, means tor propelling said device, means Jfor operating said saw, a frame pivoted to said lirst trame, and capable of movement in a vertical plane, a saw slidably mounted. with relation to said second trame and designed to be movable in a path at right angles to the movement of said irst saw, means for operating said secn ond saw, means whereby the second saw is automatically moved for making a cross cnt when the device has traveled a predetermined distan-ce, means `for automatically returning said second saw to the outward limit of its movement, a't'ter a cross cut has been made, and means for automatically throwing said propelling means out ot gear when a cross cut is being made.

Q. 1n a device of the class described, a frame, a saw adjustably mounted thereon, a second frame pivotally mounted at right angles to said first trame, means for raising and lowering said second trame, a third trame slidably mounted on said second trame, a saw mounted in said third trame, means for operating said saws, means 'for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement toward its inward limit of movement, and means tor returning said second saw to its outward limit ot movement.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, a saw adjustably mounted thereon.y a second frame pivotally mounted at right angles to said irst trame, means for raising and lowering said second trame, a third trame slidably mounted on said second frame, a saw mounted in said third trame, means for operating said saws, automati* cally operated means for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement toward its inward limit ot movement, and means for returning said second saw to its outward limit ot movement.

el. 1n a device of the class described, a frame, a saw adjustably mounted thereon, mea-ns for propelling said device, a second trame pivo-ted to said first trame at right angles thereto, a third trame slidably mounted on said seco-nd trame, a saw mounted in said third trame, means 'for operating said saws, means for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement toward its inward limit of movement, said means comprising a rack on said third frame, a pinion in mesh therewith, means for operating said pinion and means for returning said second saw to its outward limitof movement.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame, a saw adjustably mountedl thereon,

I means for propelling said device, a second frame pivoted to said first frame at right angles thereto, a saw slidably mounted with relation to said second frame, means for operating said saws, means for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement toward its inward limit of movement, said means comprising a rack on said third frame, a shaft, a pinion loosely mo-unted thereon, means for operating said shaft, means for throwing said pinion and said shaft into gear with each other at the proper time for makinga cross cut and means for throwing said pinion and said shaft out of gear when across cut has been made.

G. In a device of the class described, a,

frame, a saw adjustably mounted thereon, means for propelling` said device, a second frame pivoted to Said first frame at right angles thereto, a saw slidably mounted with relation to said second frame, means for operating said saws, means for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement toward its inward limit of movement,

said means comprising a rack on said third frame, a shaft, a pinion loosely mounted thereon, means for operating said shaft, means for automatically throwing said pinion and said shaft into gear with each other at the proper time for making a cross cut, and means for automatically throwing said pinion and said shaft out of gear when a cross cut has been made.

7. In a device of the class described, a frame, a saw adjustably mounted thereon, means for propelling said device, a second frame pivoted to said first frame at right angles thereto, a saw mounted in said second frame, means for operating said saws, means for moving said second saw from its outward limit of movement, toward its inward limit of movement, said means comprising a rack on said third frame, a shaft, a pinion loosely mounted thereon, means for operating said shaft, means for throwing said pinion and said shaft into gear wit-h each other at the proper time for making a cross cut, means for throwing said pinion and said shaft out of gear when a cross cut has been made, and means for throwing said propelling means out of gear when said pinion and said shaft are in gear.

Des Moines, Iowa, July l2, 1912.

JOHN B. VASSON. lVitnesses:

lll. A. VILLIAMSON, T. M. CARNAHAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

